Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, which has 260,000 members, called for the nationalization of the assets of the country’s richest black citizens.

Rich black South Africans including Patrice Motsepe, who controls African Rainbow Minerals Ltd., Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, MTN Group Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Phuthuma Nhleko and Liberty Group Ltd. Chairman Saki Macozoma, should have their assets seized, the Johannesburg-based labor union said in an e-mailed statement yesterday.

Motsepe, the richest black South African, and Sexwale are amongst black business leaders who have benefited from laws aimed at boosting black participation in Africa’s biggest economy in a bid to redress the inequalities of apartheid. Companies ranging from banks to miners are compelled to sell stakes in their businesses to black South Africans.

The advent of majority rule in South Africa was “never meant to reproduce or replace a white capitalist class with a black capitalist class or co-opt connected politicians to join the exploiters,” Numsa said.

The call adds to earlier demands by groups including the youth league of the ruling African National Congress and Congress of South African Trade Unions, of which Numsa is a member, for the nationalization of South Africa’s mines. It also adds to tensions within the ruling alliance of the ANC, Cosatu and the South African Communist Party, as Sexwale is a leading ANC member as was Macozoma.

President Jacob Zuma has said the nationalization calls are merely a debate while Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe yesterday said that while there aren’t any “immediate” plans to nationalize mines, the slow pace of increased black participation in the industry may have fueled the calls.

To contact the reporter on this story: Antony Sguazzin in Johannesburg at asguazzin@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 3, 2009 01:08 EST